L'abito nero da sposa is based on the play The Cardinal by Louis N. Parker.[1] The film had some notoriety in Italy as it was blacklisted by the church.[2] The film was originally going to be the directorial debut of Mario Pannunzio, who dropped out of the project.[2]Luigi Zampa, who was in the army and about to leave to the Russian front, was given a 60 day permit to direct the film.[2] During principal shooting on the film, on September 8, 1943 General Pietro Badoglio signed an armistice and joined the allies as co-belligerent.[2] Film was put on hold until the American forces were in Italy, and filming continued in June 1944.[2]
Release
L'abito nero da sposa was distributed by Produttori Associatti in Italy on May 17, 1945.[1] Zampa later spoke on about his early films, stating that he "prefer not to remember [them]. They taught me how to move the camera and direct the actors. But I never tried to watch them again, there is nothing inside them. They were just spectacles."[2]
